Five incidents of that sort have taken place since last Friday in an area spanning from Franklin Avenue to 38th Street north-south and from Clinton Avenue to Nicollet Avenue east-west.

Here, via the MPD's release, are brief descriptions of each incident:

1. 12/20 7:40 p.m. 1st Av S/28th St E-Hispanic female had purse forcibly taken from her by a black male 18-40 years old while walking.
2. 12/20 8:10 p.m. 38th/Nicollet Av-Hispanic male was robbed in a parking lot by a black male, 20-30 years old. There were no weapons involved.
3. 12/21 2:30 a.m. Franklin Av E/Clinton Av S-Hispanic male was walking and was approached by two black males, 18-40 years old. The suspects punched the victim and took his backpack.
4. 12/22 2:00 a.m. 27xx Nicollet Av -Two black males, 25-30 years old approached a Hispanic male victim and displayed a knife. They took the victim's wallet and cell phone. There were no injuries.
5. 12/23 12:38 a.m. 1 Av S/33 St E-Hispanic male was exiting a city bus when a black male, 23-25 years old displayed a handgun. The suspect ended up fleeing the area before anything was taken from the victim.

It's unclear whether Hispanics are being targeted or if the ethnicities of the victims are simply coincidental. Nonetheless, with the suspects still on the loose, the MPD is asking people in that area of town to be extra vigilant.

-- Follow Aaron Rupar on Twitter at @atrupar. Got a tip? Drop him a line at arupar@citypages.com.

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Blacks are so wonderful! The presence of blacks improves any place immensely, and the more blacks there are, the better a place gets. Everyone loves being around blacks because they are so civilized and thoughtful and wise. The countless amazing wonderful safe successful beautiful black-majority neighborhoods, cities and countries around the world attest to this indisputable fact. Celebrate the infinite amazing vibrant benefits of Divershitty!

Justin Sundt, the last paragraph says: 'It's unclear whether Hispanics are being targeted or if the ethnicities of the victims are simply coincidental. Nonetheless, with the suspects still on the loose, the MPD is asking people in that area of town to be extra vigilant.'

not far from where I am on the South side. I really hope that the MPD catch them. That's a real bad rash of what seems to be targeted crimes. I am confident that the police will get them , just a matter of time !

What a separating, irresponsible as a human, bias of reporting. I guess everyone has a price. Please don't follow this article with one wondering why we have a prejudice issue lately in our metro. And Jessica, you're not Latina so just knock it all off.